FOR AND

AGAINST
Where do you stand?
 The use of mobile phones in class
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

Students can search the net Can be a distraction, they will be

Students can take control of their tasks checking messages all the time.
They can feel safe that parents or Can text each other during lesson.
guardians can contact them at any time. Can take photos and upload onto social
Can give a sense of responsibility; they media
must control their usage of the phone. Can make the teacher worried that she
Students can record any incidents of is going to be filmed.
bullying, which will deter bullies.
TASK: Would you use your mobile
phone wisely and well, if your
teacher allowed them in class? Be
honest.
 Tourism to faraway places
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• The world is there to be • Causes unnecessary pollution

explored, so do it. • Too much tourism ruins
• Can give a sense of achievement environments of natural beauty
• It is a positive thing to be • Can be dangerous.
adventurous
Do you think it is acceptable to actually
• Wonderful to experience new ban people from travelling to faraway
cultures and new environments places, like the Antarctic? Justify your
response.
• Can help conservation by raising
awareness Research task: find out how many people
have climbed Mount Everest.
 Zoos
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Their breeding programmes • The enclosures are too small and

helps to preserve endangered this can have a detrimental
species. effect on the animals.
• Children who would never get
the chance to see wild animals
in their natural environment can
experience them at a zoo Most people have visited a zoo at some
time in their lives. Describe your last
• It’s a fun family day out. visit.
• The animals are properly looked
If you haven’t, would you like to? Why
after and kept safe. or why not?
 School uniform
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Stops competition, everyone looks the same • Loss of individual identity; you are just one in
and is equal. a crowd.
• No show-offs with the latest trainers etc • Can promote one upmanship with pupils
• Promotes a sense of belonging trying to wear more expensive outfits.

• Promotes solidarity and pride in being part of • Puts pressure on parents to buy expensive
a great school. clothes.
• Easier. You don’t have to think about what
you will wear and select outfits.

Design your ideal school uniform. Keep it real;-)

 Capital punishment
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Retribution; revenge, punishment. Can • If society accepts capital

give a sense of peace to victims’ punishment, then it is no better
relatives.
than a murderer.
• Justice is served. If you kill, you should
pay for it with your life. • Mistakes can be made. Capital
• It’s safer than letting convicted killers punishment I irreversible.
out of prison, only to kill again. • People can be rehabilitated.
• Deterrent. If you know you could pay Everybody
the ultimate price, it may stop you Research deserves
the cases aof:
second
committing murder. chance.
1) Ruth Ellis and
• It saves tax payers’ money by cutting out • It is2)against
Timothy Evans and John
a person’
Christie.
the cost of a long prison sentence
 CARROTS versus CHOCOLATE for a snack

Carrots Chocolate
Healthy! Full of vitamin A. Everybody’s favourite!
Good for your eyesight Creamy, tasty, provides an immediate sugar
boost.
Not much preparation; some people don’t even
peel them. Sociable – can be given as a gift.
Easy to carry. Should be eaten in moderation.
Cheap. Expensive
Nice and crunchy. Tasty. Calorific.
Good for your teeth. Can be consumed every Bad for dental health.
day and will still be good for you.
Some packaging is non-recyclable
If you walk by a field with a horse in it, you can TASK: What is your favourite snack? What
offer it your carrot;-)
do you particularly like about it?
 Vegetarianism/veganism
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Kinder to the planet. • Vegetarian food can be boring.

• Kinder to animals. • Good veggie food takes a lot of time to
prepare
• We have no right to kill another • God gave us animals to eat.
living being to eat its flesh. • Vegans might have to take vitamin
• People should be the guardians supplements.
of innocent animals, not the TASK: Would you consider going veggie, or
executioner. eating less meat for the good of the
planet?
• The food requires more thought,
but can be tastier and healthier Do you see anything hypocritical about going
than meat options. ‘Ahhh, sweet,’ when you see a lamb and
then being happy to eat lamb?
 facebook
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

Allows you to maintain contact with family and Too many friends; it becomes superficial.
friends day and night. Sharing too much personal info can be
Helps you trace old friends. dangerous.
It provides the right amount of contact with It can become addictive: stop taking pictures
acquaintances; people you wouldn’t rally want and live in the moment!
to see on a daily or even weekly basis. It can make you anti-social as you talk more and
It’s cool to share holiday snaps and videos. more online instead of face to face.
It’s especially useful for the older generation; Nasty posts/trolling can cause stress.
they can keep in touch with their grandkids.
Excellent for people who are isolated or living
Stop and think: How much time do you
alone.
spend on social media? Is it too much, or
just right, iyo?
 Exams
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

Passing exams shows that a person can handle They favour people who have a good memory
stress and think on their feet. This is what and good exam techniques. They don’t measure
future employers need to know. creativity.
They make you value what you are studying, as They can be very stressful, causing unnecessary
you know you will have to recall what you have anxiety. Continuous assessment is kinder as well
learnt. as fairer.
Exams have changed over the years and they do Teachers can become less creative as they are
test a wide range of skills. forced to ‘teach to the exam’.
They ensure a certain discipline and without the Research shows that each examiner grades
rigour of exams, teachers might let up and not differently; it would be better to let teachers
cover topics they don’t like. grade students on their work over a year.
Exam boards have sophisticated moderation
methods to ensure the grading is safe.
Where do you stand on exams versus continuous assessment?
 Fast food
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

Some are open 24/7, so night shift workers can The food is unhealthy. There is a link between
have food whenever they want. fast food and obesity, particularly in teenagers.
They are cheap places for family outings. Many offer supersized portions- not good for
Ideal for the young. They are cheap and there is the waistline or health.
usually a friendly atmosphere. Fast food often contains less good nutrients and
It saves time and energy. You might be too tired vitamins than freshly cooked food.
to shop or cook a meal. Burgers, pizzas, chips…they all contain too much
If you don’t eat there every day, it won’t impact fat which causes high cholesterol, leading to
negatively on your health. diabetes and heart disease.

They provide employment, usually for the People don’t know what is in their food. This
younger generation. can cause problems for allergy sufferers.

You don’t have to wait for hours for your food. Question: Should we ban fast food outlets near
schools?
 A long engagement before marriage
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

You can get to know your future You can’t start life together immediately and
spouse’s little quirks. that might make you sad.
You might lose money through tax rules
You can judge if you are compatible. favouring married couples.
More time to plan your wedding and Getting engaged is old-fashioned and a waste of
your future. time; you might as well just get on with it.
By living at home longer, you can save If you are not a national, you might lose rights
money for a mortgage. by not being married.

Your relatives can have more time to get

used to your partner.
What is the point of getting engaged?
 The woman choosing her own engagement ring

FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

She is the one who is going to The man cannot surprise the woman
wear it, so it should be her choice. with a traditional, fairy tale proposal,
where he gets down on one knee and
It is a major expense, so the produces the ring.
woman should have a say in it. The man, who is paying, cannot
It allows her to play a major, influence how much of his money his
dominant role in the engagement fiancée spends.
and shows that she is not just a Even if she can exchange the ring for
subservient recipient of a gift. one she likes better, it has taken the
romantic element out of it.
Over to you: does an engagement ring make a chattel (a possession) out of a woman?
 Working from home
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Independence, solitude, peace You can miss the social interaction of working
with colleagues.
and quiet.
You don’t have breaks and lunchtimes with your
• You can work at your own pace. colleagues when you can discuss issues and
wind down.
• No need to dress appropriately,
There is no opportunity to delegate tasks to
you can wear pjs and dressing others.
gown if you like. You miss the general hubbub of the office or
• You have your meals when you workplace.
like, not at set times. What do you most miss about school?
Did you value it when you had it?
• You can arrange social events for Are you looking forward to returning?
any time during the day.
 Coronavirus Quarantine
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS
• You can catch up with your reading • You might feel pressured into cleaning the house
• Get on top of the housework  Your mum might harass you into it.
• You might miss the social contact you normally
• Do all those little jobs you have been meaning to
have
do but never found the time
• Miss your friends.
• Bingewatch films, TV series, documentaries.
• If you have a partner, you may start arguing; too
• Hone your cooking skills, or take up something
much time indoors, like lions pacing in a cage.
new.
• You might go stir crazy! It’s boring!
• Learn a foreign language with duolingo.
• More time with your partner or your family might
lead to more closeness. Well, what do you think about it? Write a
• Maintain your presence on your social media sites paragraph about how the lockdown has been for
you so far.
• Step into the garden and really appreciate the
clean air and the bird song
 Life and work in a cold or warm climate.

Cold climate Warm climate

• Fewer flies, no mosquitoes You can sunbathe, swim, go to the
• Smaller population beach
• Less traffic Usually, fresher produce, so the
food is more varied, healthier and
• Usually, less risk of natural better in general.
disasters You can wear light summer clothes
• You can wear fashion boots all year round.
• It’s cold outside; you can’t More risk of natural disadters like
sunbathe, go to the beach etc… tsunami, earthquake, flooding…
STOP AND THINK: If you could live
anywhere in the world, where would it be?
 Working with animals or people
ANIMALS PEOPLE

• Emotionally very satisfying, you can form • Socially more satisfying.

loving bonds with your animals. • Working with people can lead to friendship,
• You are helping to conserve nature. romance and love.
• You may grieve if any of ‘your’ animals die on • There is always someone to talk to, someone
you. to upload your worries to
• Sense of responsibility: those animals depend • You can delegate and share.
on you.

• Working with animals gives you the best of both

worlds, because you have the animals AND the
colleagues. DISCUSS
• List jobs which involve working with animals
 EUTHANASIA
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• If someone is in great pain and distress, • Life is sacred; no-one has the right to take it,
without the possibility of recovery, it is kinder even if the person asks you. It is wrong.
to let them go. • There have been miraculous recoveries
• Personal choice. If a person wants out, who before. Who is to know if an illness is
has the right to deny them euthanasia? terminal?
• Keeping people alive when, if left to nature, • If euthanasia was legal, frail, old people may
they would have died, is playing God. feel pressurised into agreeing to die.
• We euthanase animals in extreme cases, so
why not extend the same to humans?
• Saves limited funds.
• Allows people to die with dignity. Have you got a viewpoint about this question?
If so, justify your opinion.
 Exercise
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• It is good for your heart. • It can be expensive if you join a gym, pay your
fees and buy all the right clothes.
• It is good to maintain a level of fitness
• You might injure yourself; pull a muscle etc
• You will be happier ( exercise releases • You might wear your joints out.
endorphins)
• It can be difficult to find the time.
• You will live longer
• You will look better Exercise is important, right? We all know
that. So, how do you keep fit? If you don’t,
what could you do for exercise?
 HOMEWORK
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• It provides time to practise points • Some students get others to do

taught at school. their work. Some never do it.
• If homework is linked to the lesson, it
• If HWK is set just for the sake of
can be very beneficial.
it, it is a waste of time.
• It instils a sense of responsibility;
pupils know they have to have a task • Teachers haven’t got the time to
finished within a certain time scale. mark homework.
• Helps promote punctuality
Write a letter to your head teacher,
• Opportunities for exam practice. asking him/her to abolish homework.
• Can promote creativity as students do
home projects.
 FREE SPEECH/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS
• Freedom of speech is a basic human right. • Freedom of speech is rightly limited. In the UK, you
Remember Voltaire: ‘I disapprove of what you say, do not have the right to incite violence, or to
but I will defend to the death your right to say it’. express racial hatred. You can, for the moment,
insult religion.
• People should have the right to offend; people
should not have the right to not be offended. • People should not have the right to offend. People
have the right to go about their business without
• No-platforming is wrong and misguided. The way hearing comments they may find offensive.
to deal with offensive comments is to challenge
them. • ‘Rudeness, slander, disrespect of my religion: is this
your precious freedom of speech? Then down with
• If people harbour negative, damaging opinions it.’
without being able to express them in words, it
may provoke them to violent actions.
• If it can be thought, it should be able to be voiced. Check it out: what is no-platforming? Do
• Limiting freedom of speech will lead society to a you agree with it?
‘1984 Big Brother is watching’ nightmare. Check out ‘1984’.
 ALLOW THE BURQA IN PUBLIC PLACES.
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• A woman can wear what she • It is a terrible symbol of female subservience. You
don’t see the men having to cover their face and
likes, including a burqa, and/ or body in shame, do you?
a bikini for that matter. • A tolerant, liberal west cannot support the idea of
women as sex objects, temptresses who have to
• It is a feminist position. be covered up from men for their own protection.
• Who is that behind the mask? A man, a woman?
• It is the right of a woman to Is he/she smiling or scowling? How do you know
show that she is a Muslim and where you stand?
wants to take her religion • Women who ‘choose’ this garment have been
Whatseriously.
is the burqa?
indoctrinated by men. All religious ideas stem
from men. A free born woman would never make
Is it acceptable to ban the wearing of the this choice.
burqa in public places?
• The burqa is not mentioned in the Qu’ran.
 LONG HAIR
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Many more ways of styling your • It takes more time to get ready.
hair than if it was short It can get tangled easily and be
• It can shade you neck from time-consuming
sunburn • You need more in terms of
• It allows you to express your shampoo and hair care products
personality
• It is considered more attractive
in many cultures
‘Hairdressers charge far too much and we should all
do our own hair.’ Discuss.
 LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• You can find out about the culture of • Everybody speaks English, so
the people who speak the language what is the point?
you are learning
• It makes you more open-minded and
• It is very hard to learn a new
tolerant language, so why bother?
• It may help to keep your mind young • Google translate is very good if
and stave off dementia you need anything translating.
• You can meet new people online • We should be travelling less to
• You can join a class and meet new protect the environment.
people in person. ‘British people should be forced to learn a
• It encourages you to travel foreign language until they are 18’. Discuss.
 TATOOS
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Reminders of important people in your life. • Once you have a tatoo, it is very difficult to
‘RIP Dad’ etc. get rid of it. Something that suits you at age
• Allows you to express yourself creatively. 19 may make you feel stupid when you are
29.
• You can show something about yourself e.g. a
• Many people, including employers, look down
small black cat on the upper arm sends out a
on people with tatoos, thinking thay are
message about you.
common, part of the under class.
• You can have your own work of art on your
• It can become an obsession and people don’t
body.
know where to stop.
• It’s cool!
• It can be dangerous; you can contract
• Salons are pretty safe nowadays. Hepatitis from a tatoo.
• It’s painful.

Consider: Do you ‘judge’ people who have tatoos?

 GRAFFITI: ART OR VANDALISM?
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Good graffiti is definitely art. • Why should the few be allowed

• It can brighten up dull spaces to impose their ‘art’ on the
majority?
• It allows young people to
express themselves creatively. • It is expensive for councils to
clean up.
• It is green art; it doesn’t need
paper. • Graffiti makes a place look run-
down and uncared for.
• It’s ‘street art’; it is a valid art
form.
• Do you like to see graffiti? Why or why not?
• Research ‘Banksy’.
 IMMIGRATION
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Gives people from third world countries the • Immigrants take ‘our’ jobs and depress
chance of a better life. wages.
• Immigrants pay taxes to the host country, • The host countries are overcrowded and the
allowing it to thrive. networks (roads, hospitals etc) cannot cope.
• Increases diversity in every aspect of culture, • Emigration hurts the home country, robbing it
including food. of doctors, nurses and other key workers.
• Many Western countries have got an ageing • Immigrants’ expectations can be too high and
population and need to recruit more people they can end up disappointed and depressed.
into the workforce.
• Immigration provides talented people for top
jobs as well as workers for low-paid jobs,
which many natives refuse to do.
Write definitions for the terms IMMIGRATION,
EMIGRATION, MIGRATION.
 ARRANGED MARRIAGES
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Many cultures value the extended family and • It is every person’s basic right to choose their
arranged marriages can strengthen and own life partner.
cement family relationships. • Romantic love is a wonderful experience
• Parents are likely to choose a partner of the which can deepen into true love.
same social standing and these marriages • If an arranged marriage goes wrong, it can be
have a good chance of success.
traumatic for the whole extended family.
• Arranged marriages can be based on
friendship and mutual respect and these
marriages can develop into true love.
• Remember that an arranged marriage, unlike Explain the differences between the terms:
a forced marriage, requires the consent of the love marriage, arranged marriage, forced
couple who are to be married.
marriage.
 KEEPING A FERRET AS A PET
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• Ferrets are highly intelligent animals • They might run away if you aren’t careful
• They love to play with you! • They are not a good pet for very young
• They have high levels of energy and will not children as they need to be handled with
just sleep by the hearth like a cat. respect.

• Most ferrets are highly trained before you • They can be expensive
buy them. If you get a baby ferret, you can • They are smelly and you have to keep their
train it yourself. cage clean.
• Ferrets like to play with their toys and they
will entertain you and lift your spirits.
• They are inquisitive and this can amuse you. Which makes the best pet: a cat or a dog?
State reasons for your choice.
• They are easy to feed; they eat raw meat and
will happily eat kitten food.
 FACE HAIR – keeping a beard or a moustache
FOR/ADVANTAGES/THE PROS/IN FAVOUR AGAINST/DISADVANTAGES/THE CONS

• You don’t have to shave every day • It can cause skin irritation
• It makes you look more attractive • It can be gross by trapping items of food.
• It gives your face character • It may make you look scary
• It can keep you warm • It is anti-social not to shave off surplus hair
• You can express your personality through the
shape of your beard or moustache
• Easy to keep clean
• It is natural. Cavemen didn’t have razors. Any opinions about having a beard?
Where do you stand? Think about your answers to the following statements.
[Link] is the most important meal of the day.
[Link] in the ocean is better than swimming in a public pool.
[Link] should be illegal.
[Link] should provide room and board for their aging parents.
[Link] grammar is more important than practising conversation skills.
[Link] is the leading cause of violence in today's society.
[Link] make better companions than cats.
[Link] should be permitted in public places.
[Link] are better students than males.
10.A parent shouldn't pierce a baby's ears.
[Link] should not be allowed to go topless on public beaches.
[Link] should not make a higher salary than nurses.
[Link] may be fun and exciting, but it causes accidents, inconvenience and disruption everywhere.
[Link] English is more difficult than writing English.
[Link] is the best season of the year.
[Link] under 13 should not be allowed to babysit.
17. Young people should be forced to serve in the armed forces for one year.
18.21 should be the legal driving age around the world.
[Link] and Roll is the best kind of music.
[Link] should be open from 8 a.m till 7 p.m.